Many of us concluded at least two years ago that the Alex-49ers relationship had run its course. It started in 2005 after all, and the scope of this has never really changed, as the seasons changed, from 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009…

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-He’s not good enough, or ifhe is, the 49ers aren’t a good enough organization to get it out of him.

This is 2010, and just an unnecessary extension of the same old, same old.

I didn’t 100% disagree with Mike Singletary’s decision to go with ASmith as the starter this season. But I wholeheartedly objected to the team’s total commitment to him–and disregarding of other upgrade options– to the point that they purposely brought in a bad back-up (David Carr) to make sure ASmith didn’t feel threatened.

Backwards, defensive, scaredy-cat thinking. Which has reigned for more than 6 years in the 49ers HQ, of course.

What’s left is the aftermath of six years of hope, excuses, injuries, more excuses, poor coaching, poor performance and more poor coaching. And more excuses.

Six years of this with ASmith! Now it’s just addiction & exhaustion.

And here we are again: Singletary has turned to Alex Smith as the 49ers’ starting QB for this week, replacing Troy Smith, who had a five-game stint replacing Alex Smith, if you’re keeping score.

To be totally fair, Troy Smith took over after Alex Smith went down with a shoulder injury.

But the 49ers were 1-6 at the time, Alex was hurt while playing mediocrely in a loss to Carolina, and Smith had come within a millisecond of a mid-game benching a few weeks (for Carr!) earlier against Philly, anyway.

And Troy Smith remained the starter even after Alex Smith was declared healthy.

Now, after a couple of bumpy games, Troy is out, Alex is back in, all the better to open up the playbook for more spread and throwing it around like the end of 2009, yippee!

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But Singletary says this switch might not be permanent, either. Of course not. It’s the 49ers. It’s Alex Smith.

Nothing remains the same, except for the team’s constant ability to keep throwing him out there, time and again, over SIX FRIGGIN’ SEASONS.

Some random thoughts:

* I’m continuously surprised when I’m reminded how many 49ers fans still support Alex Smith and still believe if he just gets another shot, he’ll prove how good he truly is.

Got it again today, when I Tweeted that this is the third time in his 49ers career that Alex has lost the starting job and then got it back, which seems like two too many times to be healthy for a QB situation.

And I also pointed out that Alex Smith has lost training-camp competitions three times:

-In 2005, when Mike Nolan anointed him the starter in his rookie training camp, but poor play in the exhibitions convinced Nolan to reverse course and go to Tim Rattay;

Did Sam Bradford lose a pre-season battle in his rookie season after getting drafted No. 1 overall? No.

Did Matt Ryan lose his job because of poor play? No.

Did Drew Brees continuously lose his starting spot and have to win it back when the other guy failed throughout his career? No.

Joe Montana? No, of course not. In fact, Bill Walsh brought in Steve Young to compete with Montana to ensure two future Hall of Famers brought out the best in each other.

(The current 49ers would hate that. Competition among two great players? Have a great option if the starter goes down? That’s scary!)

* Generally, if you’re a good QB, and you are given a true shot in the NFL, you don’t lose your job.

You don’t have coaches come after you, as Nolan went after ASmith in 2007.

You aren’t called “meek” by your head coach, as Singletary called him last year, when Singletary was trying to praise him.

You don’t blame the yearly changes at offensive coordinator–it’s not helpful, but it’s also symptomatic of a bad situation, none of it fixed by ASmith’s play.

You don’t need your fans and management to make the same excuses over and over for six years.

You don’t sift back FOUR YEARS to 2006, under Norv Turner, and say, yes, that was the perfect season… when it was a 7-9 season, and ASmith completed 58.1% of his passes and threw 16 TDs and 16 INTs.

ASmith this year: 59.1% completions, 9 TDs, 9 INTs.

ASmith career: 56.8%, 46 TDs, 52 INTs.

I think we have a pretty good idea of what and who he is.

* ASmith’s defenders continue to point out that he has been devastated by injury and that many of the times he has lost the job, it has strictly been due to injury.

And yet: He has made 47 NFL starts. (Gale Sayers played in 60 total games, and he’s in Canton.)

The 49ers have gone 17-30 in those starts.

* I’m not saying ASmith is the worst QB ever. He’s not even the worst 49ers QB of recent years, not even close.

JTO was worse. Carr is worse. Rattay was worse. Ken Dorsey was worse. I think Troy Smith is better–the 3-2 record as a starter helps this case–but I agree it’s arguable.

ASmith is clearly a level above of the No. 1 bust status of JaMarcus Russell–blown out of the Raiders in three years, and that was probably a year too long.

But that’s an incredibly low bar, as even Al Davis would admit. (I think.)

There’s a reason why you almost never see a top draft pick go this long with the team that drafted him without producing.

You’ll want to look at the body language of the 49ers’ defenders on Sunday if ASmith throws some more bad passes, maybe to the wrong team. I think they’re more tired of it than anybody.

There’s an exhaustion–I think I called ASmith the most-discussed player in Bay Area sports in 2006… and if you keep talking about him, and making excuses, and hearing excuses, and failing to come up with better options, and yo-yoing back and forth between him and somebody else, and making more excuses…

It’s like an addiction. Alex fans are addicted to the hope that, at 26 years old now, he’s still the future, despite no signs that he deserves the devotion, from when he was 22, 23, 24…

And everybody else is exhausted and shaking their heads at the addicts.

Even if ASmith goes out, runs the spread to the perfection and wallops Seattle on Sunday, it’s still tired. He’s not the future.

Tim Kawakami

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Jim Drukenmiller has to get the 1st place slot for worst 49er Quarterback of all time.

Bieber Cleaver

The Niners are run like the Warriors of Cohan. No one in the front office knows what they are doing and they constantly make bad decisions.

ASmith should have been cut a couple years ago and Singletary should have been fired after the Carolina game.

This team is pathetic.

MaxTheKiller

Memo to PLS: you have to be kidding. sure, someone will sign Alex, but dont for a minute compare him to Steve Young. Yes, Steve Young was initially a shadow of the QB he would prove to be, but he had physical tools which bridged him to the point where his mind caught up with the game. Like Alex, Steve initially couldnt read a defense to save his life, resulting in the famous “happy feet” knock. But Steve had amazing wheels, and a QUICK RELEASE, and ACCURACY that Alex does not have. A quicker release can be taught to a degree – Alex’s release is faster now than in 2005/2006, but that’s as much as he’s going to improve. And he still cant find a downfield receiver, and is woefully inaccurate on short and intermediate throws.

Ryan

See below…

Dirty, I am not an Alex support. They need to just let him walk away after this season; however, did you watch the last 5 games last season?
Did you watch the games this year that we lost by 3 or less points (all of those losses were the defense’s fault after Alex, Vernon and company brought us back and gave us the lead!). Cornerbacks giving up big pass plays, cornerbacks fumbling balls…

You are on crack too apparently. If Alex was on the cowboys or the vikings right now, he would be looking like a super star (Cowboys have made Kitna look good… Kitna…)

Anyway, the sad reality is that we have been screwed ever since Eddie’s sister and husband took over the team. We have hired bad and WORST coaches… etc.

And here is the saddest dilemma this year. Let’s say Alex plays horrible this week and we lose. Season is over. (this is not a good option for me).

Let’s say he plays great and we win. This will probably allow the team enough spark to get to 7-9 and make the playoffs. The chance are this happens… if… Then we host a playoff game and CRAP – we just won a playoff game.

York and company go nuts (resign Alex Smith) DOPE!!!

NOOOOOOOO…

So basically we are screwed if we lose or if we win.

Best Case Scenario:

Alex plays well enough to win the rest of our division games.. we go 7-9 and make playoffs.

We play a good game in the playoffs (but Alex plays Mediocre to bad) but lose.

49ers move on from Alex and sign a veteran QB and good coach (and just keep building the team). And yes, getting to the playoffs and at least showing up will help in getting a Good veteran qb and coach.

Dirty Drew says:
December 7th, 2010 at 3:47 pm

PLS says, “Smith resembles Steve Young in that he’s looked mediocre to bad while employed by an awful organization.” Put down the crack PLS. Even on the Buccaneers, Young made plays. Alice Smith has never made plays. And even in his best games, he never does it more than one week in a row. Players make plays. Even surrounded by poor talent, Like Peyton Manning make plays. Not that we need Peyton, but Alice never showed anything worth waiting for. Great article Tim. You nailed it.

Leonard Bonilla

I’m tired of it all. Just play the game and get it over with. Win or lose the Niners are not good enough to be in the playoffs anyway.

I wish you sports writers would change the focus of your articles to why Manuski is skating by with a very inconsistent defense. I want to know if SIngelatry is running the defense or Manuski is. I want to know why Manuski calls such a soft defense in the last few minuets of games they can win and ultimately lose because of big plays his defense gives up. Do you guys ever interview him?

Jeremy

The Niners even entertaining the idea of starting Alex again as a non-injury replacement makes me embarrassed to be a Niner fan and is hopefully the final nail in the coffin for Singletary. This is flat out indefensible. What a joke this team is.

Where your Warriors articles at TK? Football season in SF ended months ago.

Datarade

Your last blog was about why the Niners shouldn’t go on a winning streak late in the season. Your article today is about why A Smith sucks. Why are you complaining that the Niners are starting A Smith, when he has a greater chance of losing than T Smith? You’re playing both sides against the middle on this one Kawakami.

NickSD

Hire Harbaugh and the defensive coordinator of his choice. Maybe keep the Oline coach and let him be “OC” because Harbaugh is going to be calling plays no matter what. Cut or trade Clements and his 7.5 million dollar contract.

1. QB Luck (This years 1st and 3rd and next years 1st). Sign him to a 6 yr $80 million deal (13.3 a yr could end up being a steal) or whatever the rookie cap is.
2. CB Jenkins or Dowling (This corner would need to step up big time in this scenario)
4. MLB/OLB Casey Matthews (He’s got the genetics to be a 10 yr starter)
5. FS TJ Johnson (Leader of TCU’s great defense)
6. FB Marecic (One of Harbaugh’s favorite players)
7. WR DeAndre Brown (The 6’6 WR could be a huge steal if he come out early)

Dirk Suave

Well Niner fans Sing’ gonna be fired. I don’t think Smith off of injury will get it done. What really bothers me is if Alex goes out and wins 4 in a row. Will the 49er brass resign him? At 3-2 and a former Heisman winner doesnt Troy deserve these last four games? If he goes 4-0 or 3-1 I think you’ve got something. Whoever starts your allowing to audition for other teams. With no Gore, ASmith IS going to “fling” it around the field more. Giving this time does not help you. What if the other division teams start falling and the Niners make the playoffs with Alex at the helm? Lord forbid? Or finally arrived? Those questions should be asked of Troy over the next four not Alex.

jj

I think niners must hire a real coach and if they love Singletary that much hire him as a preacher.(thats basically the only thing he is good for!!!!! ;o) and yeah, why are they hanging on to Alex, why?!?!?!?!

rbata

I think this whole thing is comical at this point. Does it really matter who’s in at QB? Even Nedney and his bad knee can hand the ball off for predictable running plays…up the middle. Just because A. Smith is in doesn’t mean they are going to pass. Coach Sing is just going through the motions so when he does get fired they can’t say he never tried. I think this move is awesome and some of the most memorable moments in Niners history; been a fan since the early 80′s. It’s like they want to appear that they care and are trying but don’t show that when on the field. No passion at all. There’s always next decade.

Byron

Flat out Laughable..this sound like my wife telling my little kids, “this is it! one more time and you’re gonna get it!” and of course it never happens. But really..this is it Alex!! you better produce or else!!…yeah right, been hearing that since last year.

hibcbcbc

Alex Smith can’t do it.

Can’t do it. How THE BUST, who went 1-6 (by the way the earlier poster who said Alex was nails it was all on the D is either Alex’s dad or Singletary’s wife), now gets the job again over the only quarterback who ACTUALLY HAS A WINNING RECORD ON THIS TEAM.

Just like Shaun Hill had a winning record.

Singletary doesn’t want winners. He wants losers. And not just losers, but someone with a 6 year track record of FAILURE.

Do you think Sam Bradford’s Offensive Coordinator is Bill Walsh from the grave? No. If you are the real deal, YOU RAISE THE TEAM UP.

Alex has nothing but a legacy of excuses and failure. Nothing more.

ClutchUp

Tim
Was that you at the Monday press conference that Sing seemed to have a problem with – with one of the questions?

Does Singletary EVER call anyone…reporters…journalists by their first name or is always: “Sir”.

Singletary could team up with Harry Edwards and be the next chaplin.

What happened to Lisa Lange?

Niner

You don’t know what your talking about! If alex Smith had the same oc year after year he would be great! Look with the same OC he went from 57 to 59! If we keep him another 10 years he may have a qb rating of 69!!!!

Dave

Assuming Norv Turner keeps his job in San Diego, I bet we see Alex Smith as Phillip Rivers’ back up next year.

Mark M

Exhaustion is a good word for this saga Tim. It staggers me to read the few people leaving comments in here that STILL support this bust of a pick. The logic that he resembles Steve Young in his early portion of a career is mind boggling given the team he came from. According to that logic, every bad QB on a bad NFL team is a Steve Young waiting for a Walsh to come along and tutor him. Amazing.

Let’s all get ready for a some more Sundays full of
*gutless 3rd and long check downs to a back
*tipped passes, some of which will lead to crucial turnovers
*zero awareness in the pocket leading defenders to get right in his face
*too much timidity to take shots down field, especially late in game.
*lots of premature time outs due to indecision
*inconsistent production unless we are all but hopelessly behind facing an insurmountable lead against a prevent defense where we spread out our receivers…..see Green Bay and Houston from last year and Philly early this year. Alex always produces his few stats in moments like that inflating his otherwise horrid statistics. He’s a great garbage time QB. He’ll never string scores together when the game is up for grabs.

Sheeesh, I can’t believe I got suckered into this convo again. Enough already. It’s so bad now that any change is a good change.

Marco

I promise everyone that you will see Alex Smith 20 or more screen passes this weekend (Sing says that is one of the things he does well) to whoever are the running backs and guess what will happen?? The 49ers will lose the game. Sing knows the ship is sinking but he wants to do it his way. His stubbornness, poor selection of offensive coordinators (that Chicago Bears coordinator looks pretty good right now!) has ruined this season. For the last few years the defense has been on the field each game way too long. Not bringing in a functional backup quarterback was just plain dumb and a strong General Manager would not have made that mistake.

luke mcwarmsky

Jesus man! At least play nate davis so we can see if he can at least make a servicable back up.

Id like to see two things the rest of the season. Using alex as a tail back and running him up the middle a dozen times and giving singletary a gatorade bath after the next loss.

ClutchUp

How many changes have happened since the 9ers let GM Scott McCloughan go……

The last 3 are Michael Lewis/Jimmy Raye and now Lisa Lang…New Santa Clara Stadium Front Person…

chris

troy smith goes 3 and out

alex smith throws Ints

pick your poison.

‘At a Babe

Everyone knows Alex is gone.

If he went out there and was lights out (talking Pro-Bowl caliber level here) during these last 4 games, then the the 49ers still would have to look for another QB (CBA success permitting) during this next off-season.

He has an outside chance of getting a 1 year deal to “compete” for 1st string QB, but in reality would be the planned 2nd stringer.

This is only if he comes close to Tom Brady like performances these last few games. That isn’t going happen as we have found out (how many times now Tim?)

The team has no excuses to not move on. That $20 million guaranteed contract isn’t that big a hit to take to not have moved on a long time ago.

Look at MLB and people like CC Sabathia getting paid $22 mill. per season! Point is the NFL makes much more money then MLB. Even with the loss of potential revenue from a new stadium the 49ers are making a great profit these days to not have at least brought in some QB help a long time ago. Instead we get Nate Davis as our only hope for a good Niner QB in the future. Scary…

JJ

LOL. WOW. This is madness…If this goes down and Alex plays, Singleterry can kiss his job goodbye for sure. This is pure lunacy. Sorry to say 49er fans, but 49ers are starting to look like the Cohans Warriors. Starts from the top. The symptoms are mind-bogglingly idiotc moves that even the niner cheerleaders know are pure lunacy.
Alex Smith needs to be cut and to start him would be a slap in the face to the fans. Fans may want to consider boycotting….. worked for the Warriors fans.

JJ

Does anyone think we can snag one of the QB’s Kolb or Vick away from the Eagles? (whichever one they would mind losing the least).

49ers Suck

Yeah I was going to say…umm..49ers suck and will always suck because the 49eres suck. GO ATL

Ken Dorsey was worst 49ers QB of recent history. (Drunkenmiller wasn’t really considered a starter, and Pickett was just rodeo clown) But Alex Smith, even with some marginal skills, is 10x worse then Dorsey. The huge negative impact that Smith caused directly and indirectly, will linger on for years after he is gone. They should retire #11 jersey out of disgrace, never to be seen or worn again.

Blah

Rattay was worse than Alex Smith?

Uh, no. Rattay had a better passer rating with the freak’n 2004 team than Smith had with the 2006 team.

Rattay never actually lost the job to Alex Smith…Nolan handed it to Alex on a silver platter once the 2005 season was lost.